Happy International Women's Day!

It was once widely believed that women who tampered with the winemaking process would curse the grapes. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since then, with women who are engaged in and excelling at all levels of the wine business. In honor of International Women’s Day, we’ve gathered the bios of a few women who have knocked down barriers and are prominent figures within the wine industry. Cheers to all the determined and wonderful women who make both the world itself and the wine world even better! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amuse Bouche - Heidi Peterson Barrett, Winemaker “Heidi Barrett grew up in the Napa Valley in a winemaking family and was destined to become one of California's leading winemakers. It is said that winemaking is a combination of science and art. With a scientist-winemaker father and an artist mother it is no big surprise that Heidi was drawn to the wine industry. With great enthusiasm, a love for what she does, and an incredible wealth of experience, Heidi blends the art and science of winemaking like few can.” - Amusebouchewine.com Marie-Courtin - Dominique Moreau, Owner, Winemaker “Dominique Moreau is a true original. Imbued with tremendous character and personality, her wines are among the most compelling in Champagne. Biodynamic farming, minimal handling in the cellar and bottling with no dosage are some of the signatures that inform these deep, often stark, pure Champagnes. Marie Courtin fans will notice the addition of a new wine, the Présence Sans Soufre, a Pinot Blanc/Chardonnay blend that is terrific in its first release. Unfortunately I was not able to taste the 2016 Resonance or 2014 Efflorescene, as the wines aren't released yet. These are not always easy wines, but the time to explore them is always handsomely rewarded.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Scarecrow - Celia Welsh, Winemaker "Celia’s parents were avid wine collectors and at-home winemakers in Medford, Oregon, where her training in wine appreciation and the basics of winemaking began. Celia realized early on that professional winemaking would allow her to combine her fascination for flavors and aromas with her interest in science and her love for the rural lifestyle...In 1995 Celia decided to pursue her consulting career full time. She has been an independent winemaker ever since for a limited selection of Napa Valley clients. Celia earned the Rising Star Award from the Southern California chapter of Women for Winesense, and was inducted to the Winemaker’s Hall of Fame by the national chapter of the same organization. She is a professional member of the ASEV and a past co-chair of the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group. - Scarecrowwine.com Colgin - Ann Colgin, Vintner “Ann Colgin is the heart of Colgin Cellars, a true renaissance woman and vintner of uncommon passion. An avid art collector and dedicated philanthropist, her elegant, yet engaging personality is a telling reflection of her wines and winery. Ann founded Colgin Cellars in 1992 with a vision of making the finest wines from exceptional hillside vineyards in St. Helena and was instrumental in forging a world-renowned reputation for California’s small production hand-crafted wines.” - Colgincellars.com Eva Fricke - Eva Fricke, Owner “Eva Fricke grew up in northerly Bremen, but a serious case of the wine bug led her to the Rhine and a degree from Geisenheim. She crushed her own first five harvests while still working full-time as Johannes Leitz’s operations manager, but from the beginning an estate of her own was Fricke’s goal. 'When I was getting started,' she related, 'grower colleagues were saying to me, ‘Eva, what on earth are you doing getting into Lorch? Things are totally different there from the rest of the Rheingau and the wines there have this odd tone’ – which was really a function of how many of the old Lorch vintners made them. Today,' she concluded with pride, 'those very same colleagues are trying to buy land there!'" - David Schildknecht, Vinous Vine Hill Ranch - Françoise Pichon "Raised in California's wine country with family roots in Luxembourg, Françoise received an enology degree from UC Davis. After post-graduate work at the University of Bordeaux and an apprenticeship at Château Haut-Brion, Françoise returned to the Napa Valley. In 1993, Françoise joined Araujo Estate, soon stepping into the role of winemaker. The reputation of the Phillips family’s determination to craft a wine of place from the estate vineyard drew Françoise to VHR in 2008. She collaborates closely in the field with vineyard manager, Michael Wolf, to cultivate a wine that is dynamic, powerful and elegant—a soulful expression of the site." - Vinehillranch.com Cakebread - Stephanie Jacobs, Winemaker “Stephanie Jacobs was appointed Cakebread Cellars’ Winemaker in 2017, becoming only the fourth winemaker in the winery’s 40+ year history. Stephanie leads all winemaking operations at Cakebread Cellars, creating consistent, balanced, age-worthy wines that pair nicely with good food and good friends. Stephanie is active in the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group, and in her spare time, can be found cooking or in her vegetable garden with her daughter, Mae.” - Cakebread.com Corison - Cathy Corison, Winemaker & Founder “Cathy's winemaking journey began nearly 45 years ago when she took a wine appreciation course at Pomona College on a complete whim. She fell in love with wine for all the usual reasons, but, as a Biology major, was also taken by the fact that wine is the result of a fascinating collaboration among a series of living systems. Two years later she graduated, and two days after that, arrived in the Napa Valley, bent on making wine. A master's degree in Enology at UC Davis followed, and then a harvest internship at Freemark Abbey in 1978. Winemaking positions included Yverdon in 1979-1980 and then Chappellet Vineyard for the 1980's. In 1987, toward the end of her tenure at Chappellet, there was a wine inside her that needed to get out and she began to buy grapes and barrels (instead of cars and houses). Using other wineries' excess capacity while continuing to moonlight at Staglin, York Creek and Long Meadow Ranch, Corison Winery was born.” - Corison.com Lobo Wines – Victoria Coleman, Winemaker “A graduate of the UC Davis enology program, began her winemaking journey at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars as production assistant. She has returned to the Napa Valley after a stint at Jade Valley Winery near Xian, China, and consulting with new wineries there as well. Victoria was exposed to classic, Old World winemaking in 2008 when she worked alongside Erick Tourbier at Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux, France. She is one of Napa's exciting new winemakers. Victoria's portfolio at Lobo Wines includes both the Napa Valley and Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon for us, Pinot Noir and our Proprietary Blend of Cabernet and Syrah, 'Howl'." - Lobowines.com La Lagune - Caroline Frey, Winemaker “Caroline’s childhood was spent growing up in the Champagne region and pursuing her love for showjumping rather than wine, competing as part of the French national team. It was later that she acted upon her calling as a winemaker and began learning her craft. Caroline took over the management of La Lagune in 2004 at the tender age of twenty-four. In the meantime, the family also purchased Château de Corton André in Burgundy as well as being shareholder in Billecart-Salmon. Since then, La Lagune has undergone a long-term total conversion to organic viticulture and investments continue to be made. It has also become a château that is most welcoming for visitors when many estates seem reluctant, a savvy move considering that it is close to the city that is fast-becoming a tourist mecca. - Neal Martin, Vinous, Mother & Child: La Lagune 1962 – 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ While there are only a handful of women listed here, there are hundreds of fantastic women crushing it (pun intended) in the wine industry. Today and every day, we raise our glasses to all of the women around the world who are doing so much for the wine and community we love. Cheers!